Sorry to perpetuate this, but I came across another site which is offering the lens, brand-new, for £612 or thereby - £60 or so cheaper than Ian Kerr's site. However, noting that the latter's source is US-based, that would suggest that the site I found the other day is similarly placed (ie, imports from the US): as in, no UK company can offer UK-sourced goods at anything like the prices offered by Ian Kerr and his ilk.
I was following a thread on DP Review about this sort of thing and two concerns appear to arise - one relating to warranties, the other relating to 'grey goods'. I've heard about 'grey goods' coming from the Far East, with the implication that these somehow are second-rate, but for some reason didn't associate this in my mind with stuff coming from across the pond. Assuming the sites referred to above offer 12 month warranties, which they do, what's the problem as highlighted on DP Review? I can't follow this.
I'm still undecided, at any rate. I know this is going slightly off-piste here, but I recently purchased a Panasonic G3 to get away from lugging around my two Canon DSLRs and associated lenses. I like the G3 very much but I also like my DSLRs (both of which, admittedly, are getting a bit long in the tooth). But do I like my DSLRs to the extent that I'm prepared to shell out £600+ on a new lens, thus adding to an already very heavy (and possibly outdated) collection? Are DSLRs likely to become dinosaurs? Would I be better off investing in Four-Thirds, CSC, mirrorless technology, because that's where the future might lie, technology-wise?
All these bloody questions. I should take up knitting - or is that plagued by digital advances also?

Sorry to perpetuate this, but I came across another site which is offering the lens, brand-new, for £612 or thereby - £60 or so cheaper than Ian Kerr's site. However, noting that the latter's source is US-based, that would suggest that the site I found the other day is similarly placed (ie, imports from the US): as in, no UK company can offer UK-sourced goods at anything like the prices offered by Ian Kerr and his ilk.

I was following a thread on DP Review about this sort of thing and two concerns appear to arise - one relating to warranties, the other relating to 'grey goods'. I've heard about 'grey goods' coming from the Far East, with the implication that these somehow are second-rate, but for some reason didn't associate this in my mind with stuff coming from across the pond. Assuming the sites referred to above offer 12 month warranties, which they do, what's the problem as highlighted on DP Review? I can't follow this.

I'm still undecided, at any rate. I know this is going slightly off-piste here, but I recently purchased a Panasonic G3 to get away from lugging around my two Canon DSLRs and associated lenses. I like the G3 very much but I also like my DSLRs (both of which, admittedly, are getting a bit long in the tooth). But do I like my DSLRs to the extent that I'm prepared to shell out £600+ on a new lens, thus adding to an already very heavy (and possibly outdated) collection? Are DSLRs likely to become dinosaurs? Would I be better off investing in Four-Thirds, CSC, mirrorless technology, because that's where the future might lie, technology-wise?

All these bloody questions. I should take up knitting - or is that plagued by digital advances also?

[quote]Are DSLRs likely to become dinosaurs?[/quote]
No. They will become cameras for the specialist, just like medium format is now. If the camera is taking pictures as you want it, then it is not a dinosaur; if it breaks then it is dead and you need a new camera. Or there will come a time when your see a camera that has a function and you think 'I like that' - if your camera is superceded it is superceded and will it matter if the new one is MFT, APS-C DLSR, 35mm DSLR or some newer format?
Too many people spend too mcuh time looking at their gear in light of the new technology instead of asking whether it does the job.
[quote]Would I be better off investing in Four-Thirds, CSC, mirrorless technology, because that's where the future might lie, technology-wise? [/quote]
Cameras are only an 'investment' if you earn your living taking photographs but for anyone else it is an expense (no-one refers to a hammer or a frying pan as 'an investment'). So I would say buy into MFT as and when it has functions and qualities that appeal to you. If it doesn't appeal then buy a new APS-C or 35mm camera. Or stay with what you have.

Quote:Are DSLRs likely to become dinosaurs?

No. They will become cameras for the specialist, just like medium format is now. If the camera is taking pictures as you want it, then it is not a dinosaur; if it breaks then it is dead and you need a new camera. Or there will come a time when your see a camera that has a function and you think 'I like that' - if your camera is superceded it is superceded and will it matter if the new one is MFT, APS-C DLSR, 35mm DSLR or some newer format?
Too many people spend too mcuh time looking at their gear in light of the new technology instead of asking whether it does the job.

Quote:Would I be better off investing in Four-Thirds, CSC, mirrorless technology, because that's where the future might lie, technology-wise?

Cameras are only an 'investment' if you earn your living taking photographs but for anyone else it is an expense (no-one refers to a hammer or a frying pan as 'an investment'). So I would say buy into MFT as and when it has functions and qualities that appeal to you. If it doesn't appeal then buy a new APS-C or 35mm camera. Or stay with what you have.

[quote]Are DSLRs likely to become dinosaurs?[/quote]
Did TLRs become dinosaurs?
................ actually, yes they did!
A CSC is only a DSLR without a mirror and pentaprism; think of it that way and it's no big deal. :)

Quote:Are DSLRs likely to become dinosaurs?

Did TLRs become dinosaurs?

................ actually, yes they did!

A CSC is only a DSLR without a mirror and pentaprism; think of it that way and it's no big deal.

[quote](no-one refers to a hammer or a frying pan as 'an investment'). [/quote]
Depends on the frying pan. And from one who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, I know what I'm talking about. ;)
[quote]Too many people spend too much time looking at their gear in light of the new technology instead of asking whether it does the job. [/quote]
Mike, my son, you are absolutely right, and that answers the second point. But if I buy from Ian Kerr or whoever, and the stuff clearly is coming from the US, do I need to worry about the warranty/after-sales aspect? And what's all this p*sh about 'grey goods' - I still don't really understand the term. If the lens is a legitimate Canon lens, who cares where it comes from (as long as you have comeback if it's faulty)? I care not one bit for the UK economy, in the sense of the perceived loss to the UK Government of tax revenues from not buying from a UK source - Christ knows there are those in Government who are making a fine mess of things as it is. Incidentally, the other site I mentioned is PhotoDirect (ebay-based). They have a very positive rating, and I am sorely tempted just to go with their deal. However, any EPZ members who have experience of said site/company, please feel free to advise.
Thanks, as always, for all the constructive input.

Quote:(no-one refers to a hammer or a frying pan as 'an investment').

Depends on the frying pan. And from one who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, I know what I'm talking about.

Quote:Too many people spend too much time looking at their gear in light of the new technology instead of asking whether it does the job.

Mike, my son, you are absolutely right, and that answers the second point. But if I buy from Ian Kerr or whoever, and the stuff clearly is coming from the US, do I need to worry about the warranty/after-sales aspect? And what's all this p*sh about 'grey goods' - I still don't really understand the term. If the lens is a legitimate Canon lens, who cares where it comes from (as long as you have comeback if it's faulty)? I care not one bit for the UK economy, in the sense of the perceived loss to the UK Government of tax revenues from not buying from a UK source - Christ knows there are those in Government who are making a fine mess of things as it is. Incidentally, the other site I mentioned is PhotoDirect (ebay-based). They have a very positive rating, and I am sorely tempted just to go with their deal. However, any EPZ members who have experience of said site/company, please feel free to advise.

The Canon T&C say only "...This warranty is offered to Consumers who have purchased their Canon products within the United Kingdom. ". It would be hard to say it would not be covered if the goods are actually held in stock here - after all, every lens has been imported at some point.
http://www.canon.co.uk/Support/Warranty/Terms_Conditions/index.asp
The 'grey goods' thing is (was) an issue for some because in the early days grey-importing cameras would arrive at the buyer's house set up for Poland (for example) with manuals in Polish and a European charger. But these days they arrive with international plug options and manuals are usually online so it makes no difference where they come from. Only hten did people start talking about 'warranty' and people presumed they would have the same warranty issues as if they had bought the camera in Singapore while on holiday and carried it back home - but I never actually heard of anyone having service problems with a grey import. SO in that respect, I can understand your questions about the disadvantages of buying these products.
I just like the idea of taking a big-ticket item to a shop and saying ' you sort it out' rather than arguing the toss with Canon or someone online. Basically, I am just an old fuddy-duddy.

The Canon T&C say only "...This warranty is offered to Consumers who have purchased their Canon products within the United Kingdom. ". It would be hard to say it would not be covered if the goods are actually held in stock here - after all, every lens has been imported at some point. http://www.canon.co.uk/Support/Warranty/Terms_Conditions/index.asp

The 'grey goods' thing is (was) an issue for some because in the early days grey-importing cameras would arrive at the buyer's house set up for Poland (for example) with manuals in Polish and a European charger. But these days they arrive with international plug options and manuals are usually online so it makes no difference where they come from. Only hten did people start talking about 'warranty' and people presumed they would have the same warranty issues as if they had bought the camera in Singapore while on holiday and carried it back home - but I never actually heard of anyone having service problems with a grey import. SO in that respect, I can understand your questions about the disadvantages of buying these products.
I just like the idea of taking a big-ticket item to a shop and saying ' you sort it out' rather than arguing the toss with Canon or someone online. Basically, I am just an old fuddy-duddy.

Mike, many thanks for your very helpful explanations. And to all others who have helped me better to understand the complexities of buying on-line, off-line, US-sourced or whatever.
Purely for info and perhaps a little amusement, I was browsing in Jessops in Edinburgh today and they were selling the 24-105 for well over £900. I mean, come on: do these people honestly believe they're going to get a sale when, for example, you can get the same lens on Amazon for a hundred quid less? Not to mention the on-line deals I and everyone else have spoken about in this thread?
[quote]I just like the idea of taking a big-ticket item to a shop and saying ' you sort it out' rather than arguing the toss with Canon or someone online. [/quote]
Having bought goods from a well-known High St outlet in the past, and having experienced the bugger of a job to get my money back when said goods turned out to be faulty within the guarantee period, it seems to me that, in the scheme of things, the cheapo on-line options carry no greater risk of me being a less happy customer than might be the case were I to buy from a more 'reputable' source. That said, I'm always happy buying from the likes of, say, Amazon, because their returns policy is second-to-none.

Mike, many thanks for your very helpful explanations. And to all others who have helped me better to understand the complexities of buying on-line, off-line, US-sourced or whatever.

Purely for info and perhaps a little amusement, I was browsing in Jessops in Edinburgh today and they were selling the 24-105 for well over £900. I mean, come on: do these people honestly believe they're going to get a sale when, for example, you can get the same lens on Amazon for a hundred quid less? Not to mention the on-line deals I and everyone else have spoken about in this thread?

Quote:I just like the idea of taking a big-ticket item to a shop and saying ' you sort it out' rather than arguing the toss with Canon or someone online.

Having bought goods from a well-known High St outlet in the past, and having experienced the bugger of a job to get my money back when said goods turned out to be faulty within the guarantee period, it seems to me that, in the scheme of things, the cheapo on-line options carry no greater risk of me being a less happy customer than might be the case were I to buy from a more 'reputable' source. That said, I'm always happy buying from the likes of, say, Amazon, because their returns policy is second-to-none.

In my dark (:D) Canon days I owned the 24-105; it was a great lens apart from excessive Chromatic Aberration though easily got rid of with various lens profiles; funnily enough in my now enlighted Nikon ( even more :D:D) I now have the Nikon 24-120 which is equally a great lens with again dollops of Chromatic Aberration; it must be something about this particular zoom ratio or just me being picky.
The maximum f/4 doesn't bother me as with this lens I will rarely be using it to minimise DOF and VR will make up for any slowish shutter speeds I may be forced to use
THe zoom ratio is very useful if you just want to go out with one lens.
Peter.

In my dark () Canon days I owned the 24-105; it was a great lens apart from excessive Chromatic Aberration though easily got rid of with various lens profiles; funnily enough in my now enlighted Nikon ( even more ) I now have the Nikon 24-120 which is equally a great lens with again dollops of Chromatic Aberration; it must be something about this particular zoom ratio or just me being picky.

The maximum f/4 doesn't bother me as with this lens I will rarely be using it to minimise DOF and VR will make up for any slowish shutter speeds I may be forced to use

THe zoom ratio is very useful if you just want to go out with one lens.